But if we are going to talk about overrated, we can't fail to mention one of the worst directors in history who gets a pass from his fans at this site - David Lynch. What dreck - almost as bad as Tarantino sometimes is (another generally overrated Director). Reading all the adulation he gets on the other thread is difficult when you think he's not particularly talented and a one-trick pony (shock value anyone?).

I'm not saying I fully agree but it's nice to see a response that isn't just pious obeisance.

I find Lynch dull. Tarantino I think really is talented. Some of his movies are excellent. But the one-trick-pony charge fits what's wrong with a lot of his stuff. Certainly he's nowhere on my list of favourites.

Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.

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Give a man a fire and he is warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he is warm for life.

Another director I don't I seen anything by, but often talked about and mentioned online. How do you see Fassbinder movies? Where have you seen them and how did you get exposed to them (and found out you like them)? I mean, they show Transformers movies on TV, not some obscure art films by Fassbinder

What's so special about Fassbinder[?

« Last Edit: September 13, 2017, 08:44:34 AM by 71 dB »

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Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening. Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural and less tiresome in headphone listening.

Another director I don't I seen anything by, but often talked about and mentioned online. How do you see Fassbinder movies? Where have you seen them and how did you get exposed to them (and found out you like them)? I mean, they show Transformers movies on TV, not some obscure art films by Fassbinder

I've seen at least 3 on the Finnish National Broadcasting Company's TV channels.

Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.

While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque 3 Women, and Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time. Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.

All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.

BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).

While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque 3 Women, and Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time. Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.

All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.

BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).

While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque 3 Women, and Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time. Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.

All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.

BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).

I'm not saying I fully agree but it's nice to see a response that isn't just pious obeisance.

I find Lynch dull. Tarantino I think really is talented. Some of his movies are excellent. But the one-trick-pony charge fits what's wrong with a lot of his stuff. Certainly he's nowhere on my list of favourites.

Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.

I don't watch films very often these days. I find my interests come and go in phases, some months I do nothing (with my spare time) but read novels, others nothing but watch films, others nothing but listen to music. The past year hasn't been much of a film season for me, I've watched some stuff with friends, but mostly crap to riff on MST3k style, and I'm not particularly enthusiastic about cinema right now, but here are some directors off the top of my head whose films have stuck with me over the years, with particular favourites noted.

Thank you for noting these as particular favorites. On Facebook t’other day when I posted a Spielberg remark defying anyone, once they’ve started to watch a Kubrick film, to push the Stop button . . . quite a few comments countered with at least three of your (and my) favorites.

Thank you for noting these as particular favorites. On Facebook t’other day when I posted a Spielberg remark defying anyone, once they’ve started to watch a Kubrick film, to push the Stop button . . . quite a few comments countered with at least three of your (and my) favorites.

I mean, I can definitely understand being impatient with some Kubrick films, but I think once you get a handle on the deliberate pacing the atmosphere and visuals will carry you along for even three hours if necessary. For all his supposed austerity there's a real emotional core in a lot of his work that I think people tend to miss for whatever reason, a sense of slowness may be one of those reasons.

I mean, I can definitely understand being impatient with some Kubrick films, but I think once you get a handle on the deliberate pacing the atmosphere and visuals will carry you along for even three hours if necessary. For all his supposed austerity there's a real emotional core in a lot of his work that I think people tend to miss for whatever reason, a sense of slowness may be one of those reasons.

A number of scenes in this or that movie, it is certainly a scene which probably any other director in the world would shoot shorter, would excise pauses, might even slash away dialogue: the scene where the team are awhile, getting out there to pull Cowboy (was it?) away to safety (and too late); the scene where the Harfords get high and have an "are we arguing?" kind of conversation between two people getting high; even the duologue in the washroom between Jack and Grady. Heck, the opening refueling footage in Dr Strangelove. But I feel very much that this just-shy-taffy-pulling scale for these scenes is one of his trademark successes.